Local Impacts & Environmental Benefits

The Project will help bolster the local economy by providing long-term secured revenues to project landowners and the host communities, including the Towns of Collins, North Collins, Concord, Eden, and Brant, Erie County and local school districts. These benefits are based on the amount of infrastructure which will be installed in each of these towns and school districts. As currently proposed, the Project would contribute the following economic benefits to the region:  

• Approximately $2 million annually in direct payments to the Towns of Collins, North Collins, Concord, Eden, and Brant, Erie County and local school districts through a combination of a payment in lieu of taxes and host community payments.  
• Approximately $2 million in landowner payments annually, providing a stable long-term revenue stream to our farmers and landowners hosting project infrastructure or who signed Project land agreements. 
• Approximately 80-90 jobs at the peak of construction. Construction is expected to last one to two years, starting as early as 2028.  
• Four full-time highly skilled jobs during the +35 year operating life of the Project. These jobs are normally filled by people living in the area, as is the case at many of our operating facilities, expanding the availability of good paying jobs in the community and allowing families to stay local. 
• A ‘Share the Wind Fund’ will be available during construction and operation to support local organizations and community initiatives. Prior to construction there will be $10,000/yr available and $40,000/yr during construction and operation to support local events, initiatives, groups and projects as determined by a board of local community members. 
• $2,000 scholarships annually to schools within the project area, to support students pursuing post-secondary education in the trades or program that is relevant to renewable energy. 
• Opportunities for local businesses including hospitality, material supply, and construction services sectors during construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning.  
• The Facility will safely generate enough clean, renewable electricity to power more than 85,000 New York households. 

At each of our projects in New York State, we strive to do our absolute best to positively impact all aspects of society, from protecting and preserving lands and historic communities, to uplifting the residents of communities with educational opportunities, workforce development opportunities, and collaborative partnerships.  

For over 35 years, EDF Renewables has dedicated its efforts to creating a sustainable energy economy. We’ve done that by building and operating solar and wind energy generating projects across North America.  

What helps to define us is our commitment to the communities in which we operate. At the core of every EDF Renewables project is sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Our CSR efforts do not happen in isolation. They are part of our corporate DNA. We believe that the world of energy is changing, and customers are becoming more involved in all aspects of the business. Transparency and stakeholder engagement are an integral part of the process. As a responsible electricity company that champions low-carbon growth, we have adopted a number of CSR goals that reflect our commitment to working closely with our customers and the communities in which we operate.  

• When constructed, the Collins Wind Project will recycle construction waste to the maximum industry extent. Any waste generated during operation, including components that are repaired or replaced, will be recycled or otherwise disposed of at an appropriate facility and in accordance with federal and state laws.   
• The Facility will not release any waste into the environment during operations.  
• Wind facilities do not generate toxic or hazardous materials. Safety concerns that are related to the configuration of the wind energy facilities, include blade failure, fires, and ice shedding, but they are unusual and of rare occurrence (NYSERDA, 2020). EDF Renewables addresses potential occurrences by establishing reasonable setbacks from residences and public corridors, proportional to the size of the turbine and blades.  
• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (2020) “New York State Wind Energy Guidebook.” Available here: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Clean-Energy-Siting-Resources/Wind-Guidebook  
• Construction Best Management Practices such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) will be utilized where appropriate to place underground collection lines to protect New York State surface waters.  
• Construction Best Management Practices will meet the criteria set forth by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) for storm water discharges associated with construction activity. 
• The NYSDEC standards and specifications provide criteria for minimizing erosion and sediment impacts from construction activity involving soil disturbance. They show how to use soil, water, plants, and products to protect the quality of our environment.  
• The Collins Wind Project will include a Site Security Plan and Safety Response Plan developed with input from local first responders.   
• The Plan will address safety and emergency contingencies and cyber security and will be provided to the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.  
• In general, wind energy generation facilities are not known to pose any significant health impacts to the public, or to properties in the vicinity of the facilities. The Project will assess how to best avoid and minimize any potential impacts through careful facility design and planning.  

Renewable energy facilities such as the proposed Collins Wind Project offer significant environmental, public health, and community benefits, and will aid the State in transitioning from carbon-emitting electric generation, which has negative impacts on air quality, wildlife, and human health, toward a carbon-free energy future. The Project will safely generate enough clean, emission free electricity to power over 85,000 NY households.   

As a responsible company that champions low carbon growth, we also consider the environment where we work and live. For example, we added several biodiversity and environmental features at our Arnprior Solar Project in Ontario, Canada such as a monarch butterfly conservation project, a bee and honey project, and a natural weed abatement pilot project.  

Collins Wind will be a beneficial addition to the State’s electric generation capacity by advancing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and 2015 State Energy Plan (SEP) objectives and will contribute toward achieving the following clean energy and climate targets of the SEP and CLCPA goals:  

• 70% electricity generation from renewable energy resources by 2030 
• The Facility will provide 200 MW of wind capacity; will safely generate enough clean, renewable electricity to power over 85,000 New York households; and will contribute directly to the goals of 70% electricity generation from renewable energy resources by 2030.   
• 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040   
• As a source of renewable, carbon-free electricity to be installed before 2030, the Facility will contribute directly to the goals of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.  
• Reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions  
• By replacing fossil fuel electricity generation, the Project will contribute towards the State’s GHG emission reduction goals of 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050.  
• The Project will be consistent with New York’s energy planning objectives, including reliability, fuel diversity, regional requirements for transmission capacity, and transmission.